Slab handling device



J. D. MOLLENDORF 2,609,225

Sept. 2, 1952 I SLAB HANDLING DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1947 Z5 Z5 Patented Sept. 2, 1952 SLAB HANDLING DEVIGE Jean DQMol lendorf, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to Illinois Prestcrete 00., Chicago, Ill' a corpora;

ti'ori 6f Illinois Application- September 27, 1947, seminawaiss- The present invention relates to acon'crete slab assembly and more particularly to a handling device used in transporting an assembled: unit comprising blocks or slabs of concrete or .the like arrangede'nd to end and drawn and held together by rods or the like; 1

It is a'n-object of the invention to provide a simple handling device for such assemblies which can be quickly attached and detached from the assembly so as to expedite as much as possible the handling and transporting of the slab assemblies. The handlingdeviceitself is intended to be used over and over again and, therefore, is often required to be shipped between distant points while being returned from the final destination of one slab assembly to the source of anotherassembly' to which the device is to be attached. These operations are facilitated by the small size and light weight of the present device.

The foregoing all constitute advantages of the present invention and other advantages and objects will become apparent from the description which follows and the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a complete slab assembly shown with'the handling device in place, ready for lifting the assembly;

Fig, 2 is an end elevational View of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 with the overhead carrying cable removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken through one end of the assembly illustrated in Fig. l, with a portion of the view shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the lifting arm illustrated in the prior figures; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the lifting arm illustrated in Fig. 4.

For purposes of illustration a single embodi- "2 Claims. (01. 294 s7 ment only of the present invention is disclosed in the drawings and will be described hereinafter. It is recognized, however, that many modifications can be made in the specific embodiment disclosed without departing from the intended scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a slab assembly therethrough. Adjacent to thelower edge of the blocks H) on each-side thereof is a longitudinally disposed slotor groove i2 (see Figs. 2 and 3) each of which, when the blocks are arranged end to end as showninFigU-l, extendsthroughout the entire length; of the assembly.- A metal rod I3 threaded at its opposite ends as at, It. is adapted to be disposed .in the longitudinal extending groove 12 disposed on each side of the assembly.

An end plate ['4 is provided for each end of the assembly and is apertured to receive one end of each of the rods l3. Thus as shown in Fig. I the rods I3 project through the plates [4 and the blocks II] are drawn together preferably under an initial compression by means of nuts l5 threaded onto the ends of therodslii. Suitable washers i6 may be inserted between the nuts l5 and the plates [4. r As best shown in Figs. 2 and Sthe end plates [4 may be rectangular in shape and when mounted onto the assembled blocks H) are disposed adjacent the lower edge of the assembly with a portion of the plates spanning the cylindrical opening I I passing through the blocks Ill.

A lifting arm or handle hook I? is provided with a lower offset portion [8 which as shown in Fig. 3 is adapted to engage the inner face IQ of one end plate i l. The upper portion of the arm I1 is adapted to rest against the end of the end block in in the assembly. The plate E4 is apertured at 26 to receive a pin 2| in the arm 11. The arm I1 is apertured adjacent its upper end as at 22 to receive a hook 23 mounted on the end of a cable 24 used in lifting the assembly.

As shown in Fig. 1 a lifting arm I! is required for both ends of the assembly and initially each of these arms is inserted in place with the lower end 18 of the arm first inserted in the hollow tile above the plate l4 and is then brought against the inner face of the plate I4 with the lug or pin 2i inserted in the aperture 20, The hooks 23 are then inserted in their respective apertures 22 and the assembly is ready to be lifted. The cables 24 are attached at their free ends to a ring 25 and during the lifting operation a suitable crane or lifting hoist (not shown) with hooks diagrammatically illustrated at 26 grasps the ring 25 and effects the lifting of the assembly.

It is to be noted that the lifting arms ll project above the upper edge of the blocks [0. During the lifting operation the force on each of the lifting arms ll urges the lower end of the arm l8 outwardly against the inner face [9 of the plate l4 and at the same time forces the upper portion of the arm 1! against the end of the end block l0, thereby locking the lifting arm I! to the end of the assembly. The lug or pin 2| disposed in the aperture 20 serves to prevent relative vertical movement between the lifting arm I! and the plate [4 so as to permit lifting of the assembly.

When the slab structure is disposed at its final destination the hooks 23 are removed from their corresponding apertures 22 in the lifting arms I! and each of the arms is very quickly and simply removed from the assembly by merely removing the upper end of the arm awa from the end of the block assembly so as to permit removal of the pin 21 from the aperture 20 in plate I 4 and then the lifting arm is merely withdrawn.

Thus a very simple device is provided for use in handling building structures of the type described and the lifting arms I! together with the cables 24 can be returned to the source for uses in connection for transporting other like assem-' blies.

It is to be noted that the present invention permits handling of the assembled slab structures without requiring the use of handling steel members across the top of the assembled structure. In other words, in conventional assembled structures steel rods are used along the upper adjacent to the lower region of the assembly and I having an inner face spanning said opening, a'rl upstanding lifting arm having a lower portion adapted to fit into the opening and engage the inner face of the plate and an upper portion adapted to engage the end of the block assembly, the plate having an aperture therein, and a lug extending outwardly from the face of the arm that engages the face of the plate, the lug being adapted to enter the aperture.

2. For use in lifting an assembly of blocks arranged end to end and held together by longitudinally disposed rods that project beyond the opposite ends of the assembly, the combination of a plate adapted to extend crosswise across one end face of the assembly and being apertured to fit over the ends of the rods, means fastening the plate onto .the rods, the end blocks having each exposed end face open in its central region. the plate being adapted to span the opening and having an inner accessible face, and an upstanding arm having lower and upper offset parallel portions, the lower portion being adapted to engage the inner face of the plate, a lug projecting outwardly from the lower offset portion on the side thereof that engages the plate, the plate having an aperture therein to receive the lug and the upper portion of the plate being adapted to engage the end face of the block.

JEAN D. MOLLENDORF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Romine Dec. 19, 1933 

